To modify

Tonight, while watching "Tokyo Mater" on Nate's iphone:
Nate: "Do you know what modify means?"
Kai: "To change something."
Nate: "Where did you learn that?"
Kai: "Dup."

sweet morning

The kids were particularly cute this morning: Nina slept in and Kai couldn't wait for her to wake up. They were all hugs and kisses, and Kai fed Nina his peaches and cottage cheese. Here he's talking to Grandpa Fud about our trip to San Fran, about which state he's going to move to next, and asking what Grandpa had for breakfast.
We brought the keyboard out again yesterday (it makes brief, occasional appearances because they haven't figured out how to share it) and last night I couldn't believe the music Kai was making. Pretty incredible tones and chords. I thought it was Nate at first.

A fantastic trip to the city

Our trip to the California Academy of Sciences yesterday was awesome. We all loved it. Kai took pictures of the pitcher plant. Our favorite part: the bow-mouth guitar fish and the bird-eating tarantula. Took a drive by the ocean after, a little walk on the coastal trail, and ended with dinner in our favorite neighborhood near golden gate park.

ecuador!

Kai and Nina in Ecuadorian outfits; Nina in new spring outfit from Nana and Dup; Kai fell asleep while Nate read a NOLA-based magic treehouse book; video of Nina being girlie girlie.

Kai sings

Some Kai for Tibo.

It may be the first day of spring, but sure feels like summer. Like June in Wisconsin. Water table already in use; meals outside on the patio.

Kai

Nana did clothing word scrambles tonight for Kai: sock, pants, shoe, etc.
Kai says, "OK, now it's time to do body parts."
He proceeded to take the pencil out of Nana's hand and write, "T - B - u"
Then he walks a few steps away, says, "I'll give you a hint!", turns around, and pulls down his pants.
Big laughs on that one.

Something to entertain both kids!

Nina discovered the train bin recently.
Nina in my favorite Kai outfit.

Took the kids to Berkeley for Kai's 3rd and Nina's 2nd Dan Zanes concert. Nina hugged my neck like a monkey for the first two songs but after that she rocked out in the aisle...and then proceeded to try to make a getaway for the last half of the show. Kai was mesmerized. He cheered and yelled for his favorite songs. Both kids loved it. Nina crashed out in the car on the way home; stopped for in-and-out and let the kids eat at their kiddie table for the special occasion. Here's the photoshoot, in front of our Camellia tree - Sac's city flower.
And finally, Nate's home after his LAST interview. Whew. While he was gone we rode Kai's bike to east portal park and stopped at Burr's on the way back for ice cream and hot dogs; rode to Coloma park to try out Kai's new soccer cleats (which Nina keeps wearing around the house...the girl is going to love to tap dance); played in the park with Zane and Lilly (something we'll postpone for awhile until Kai and Zane can stop wrestling and fighting); played on the lanai quite a bit since the weather was nice. Kai was thrilled yesterday to help me clean toys with soapy water in the backyard. Loves to help. He took his job very seriously.
And the kids are snot-free going on almost a week now! Hurray!

Kai heading off to school with his list of "v" words and bag of cloVes; Nina on her borrowed horse and new haircut.

Kai's art project

Kai three years ago

Nina's age. Mom, you were wondering if Kai liked books so much at Nina's age. I'm kicking myself for not bringing the Bob the Builder books out here.

Not a new picture but a cute one.
Kai couldn't wait to show his gymnastics teacher the book he had checked out from the library. She was soooooooooo uninterested. Ugh. Another heartbreaker.
Nina did a lot of pinching and pulling hair yesterday. I said, "Nina, did you pinch?" Nods her head with a grin. "Is that good or bad?" "Bad." "Are you sorry?" Nods her head and said, "Ug" and gives Kai a hug. He is so undeterred and unfazed by her abuse! It's crazy.

Pictures: Kai and his paci-purge present scrabble game; Nina's new pasttime; Nina lovin up "daddat".
Having a hard time keeping up with kiddos these days, who have decided they don't need as much sleep anymore so my mornings to myself are cut short. It's not such a bad deal though, cuddling with Nina on the couch while watching "Bid!" (big bird) on sesame street; or getting some extra quiet time with Kai. It's great when one wakes up before the other.
Lowlights: sick kids, pale Nina so feverish and trembly in the night, poor Kai tossing his cookies from the third February virus of his short life. Kai getting rejected from a group of kids playing duck duck goose at the park (ouch, hurt my heart...a teachable moment).
Highlights: our trip to Consumnes river preserve, this time with Nate, in the late afternoon when he finished working early much to our surprise; our trip to Lake Folsom where Kai was knee deep in water and so, so, so happy about it while Nina looked for rocks to toss in the streams; our trip to hippie dippie Berkely for a kids music show when I decided-while watching the singer, a Wisconsin-born-middle-aged gal like me-to never go so long between highlights again. What else...our nice afternoon in Davis with Samir's family; our nice evening with Zane's family; realizing that I can indeed put the two to bed on my own. Taking kids to East Portal park with Kai on bike and Nina in stroller. Strolling to LaBou with Nina to get a muffin, as she excitedly pointed out little flowers and wildlife all the way home. New soccer and gymnastics sessions for Kai. A few afternoon trips with Zane and Lilly to the zoo. The day the kids took a nap at the same time; the first time ever?!
And our wonderful week with Meece. Took Kai to Disney on ice. Meece had a few nice morning walks alone with Nina. Our AMAZING hike outside of Auburn to see a waterfall; Kai almost didn't make it at first, the kid gets so hot and although it was only 70 degrees it felt much hotter on the trail. The kid looked so damn cute in his Red Sox hat and bare chest, running down the trail, and even more so when he took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his brown chinos to dip his feet in the water. He had more fun than anybody I think. Meecie's visit broke our nearly 2-week obsession with workbooks, word puzzles, color by numbers, for Kai - the weather was so nice (and hasn't been as nice since) that we rarely spent any time inside.
The kids these days - Kai likes to antagonize Nina a bit. Their dynamic reminds me a bit of me and Sara; Kai teases, Nina pinches. Nina frequently wants Kai to back off a bit. Kai is in a super-affectionate stage, with Nina and with us, which is just awesome. Almost forgot we're paci-free, it was such an easy, anti-climactic event. Nina has so many words, my favorite is the way she says "Lilly", Zane's sister, with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.